The fashion brand founded by Real Housewives of Cheshire star Seema Malhotra owed almost £3m when it entered liquidation, it has been revealed.
Debts of over £2.8m had been racked up by Manchester-based Dress Me Online, which traded as Forever Unique, according to newly-filed documents with Companies House.
The brand Forever Unique is now trading under a new operating company, Fashion Store Online Limited.
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The brand was co-founded by Seema Malhotra, along with her husband Sandeep, but she is not a director of Dress Me Online. The only director is Mr Malhotra.
Her husband is also the only director of Fashion Store Online Limited.
According to its most recently available accounts, Dress Me Online turned over £2.3m in the year to December 2020.
The new statement of affairs, which has been filed with Companies House, shows that HSBC was among its largest creditors as well as China-based Guangzhou Pretty Fashion and Turkey-based Nova Sourcing USD. HMRC was owed over £1.3m when Dress Me Online entered liquidation.
Mr Malhotra was owed over £140,200 while Unique Collections, a Manchester company he is a director of, was also owed almost £577,300.
Amie Johnson and Yiannis Koumettou of Begbies Traynor were appointed as joint liquidators of Dress Me Online on Tuesday, April 4, "after all options had been explored to keep the business open".
Insolvency director Amie Johnson said: "We have successfully completed a sale of the company’s stock. In accordance with our statutory obligations we are now focusing on our investigations into the company’s affairs and conduct of the company’s directors.
"If creditors have any concerns regarding the company’s affairs or directors conduct we would ask that they contact us with details. We will keep creditors updated with progress."
Speaking last month, she said: "Every option was explored but there was no choice but to enter the company into liquidation. A combination of the economic climate, inflation and issues in recovering from the pandemic have resulted in these circumstances."
The brand's clothes have previously been worn by the likes of Holly Willoughby and Kate Middleton. The latest news comes after Forever Unique's wholesale arm entered liquidation last year owing more than £2.8m.
Forever Unique Limited had an estimated total deficiency of £2.822m.
At the time the company said it was hit by the Covid crisis and that the brand would now focus on selling direct to customers.
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